Trailer having four steering wheels



` J. CODER ET AL n TRAILER HAVING FoURsTEERING WHEELS Filed Oct. 9, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 7 1926.Y 1,598,675

J. coDER Er AL THAILER HAVING FOUR STEERING WHEELS Filed Oct. 9, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fiel Dim' l .mmm

o t Flc-5.4 1f d' M f J e la gwada@ Patented Sept. 7, 1926.

UNITED As'rfrr-:s

PATENT oFFlcB; 'y

JQSEPH CODER .AND LQUIS CODER, OF MARSEILLE, FRANCE. I' i TRAILER HAVING* FOUR STEERING WHEELS.'

Application lled October 9, 1925. lSierial No. `61,551.

Ordina/'rytrailers widely usedthrodghout the world do not come up to the actual needs of transport enterprises owing to the fact that their steering is incorrect and the diiculties asv to their operationV when formed into trains. n

All types of trailers -havin f four steering wheels which have been use the uestion of fact that'the angle through whic each axle can turn vis limited, the Whole train only7 turning on a relatively lar e radius. y

he present invention overcomes -these inconveniences and relates to a trailer havin four steering wheels capable of being yo ed to travelin either direction and composed of a chassis carried by two under carria es, the controlled under carriage in or er to avoid over balancing only turning through a predetermined angle.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a section online 1-1 Fig'. 2.`

Fig. 2 is a plan. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the stationary quadrant. f

Fig. 4 plan of same.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the locking Fig. 6 is a plan of same.

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the moving quadrant. v

Fig. 8 is a plan of same.

Fig. 9 is an elevation of coupling rod.

Fig. 10 is a plan of same.

A chassis a is carried at the ends by two under carriages Z) which are each capable of bein yoked tothe drivin vehicle at either end y the shafts or coup ings c. Each of the under carriages bis formed with a T shaped member d aiiixed to the central cross member forming a locking pin, its vertical axis f being pivoted in a' bronze bearing g the pi-n having a polysided head z. (shown square in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings) to engage a lever i (Figs. 7 and 8) for operating it. aty one end this lever is ailixed to a. uadrant j of predetermined radius formedl with a notch I: into which a pin Z travellinl between the forks on. 'of a connecting ro n can enter; the other end of this fork n is connected through a lever otoagear box p.'

pin.

A double stationary quadrant g insidewhich the movable quadrant j can turnis do not solve. f

affixed to the chassis corresponding to each under carriage b. 'lhe quadrant q formed with a segmental slot. or groove fr in which thel in Z of the fork m ofthe. connecting ro ,n enters; Two recesses e are formed one at eachend of this slot r eccent'ricthereto and of the same size as the notch lain the' quadrant j. Two hollow ta pcd` bosses s are formed on the outer perip iery of the quadrant opposite the recesses e. Each boss is occupied by a threaded stud t under which: is arran red ya spring u against which it bears. 'lhe length lof -the slot r is determined by the 'range of the connecting rod n.

l`he two under carriages b being symmetrical, their movement is the same and they work in the following manner.

rl`he change of direction can be coml'nunicated by any shaft or coupling c when the corresponding under carriage b will pivot with its T shaged member d in the bronze bearing g. T c square head h will turn the lever i and hence also the movable quad# 4through the gear box p. Inthis way the movement. oi the two Aunder carriages is similar, but in opposite directions as long as the lever 'i of the controlled under carriage does not arrive at-the end of the slot r in the double stationary quadrant g. As soon as the pin Z reaches the end of the slot r it leaves the notch le and enters the recess e compressing the sprino ue. l/Vhcn this occurs the novable quadrant j can continue its movement without acting on the connccting rod a th'e4 pin Z remaining motionless in its new position.

A iter turning'through a predetermined angle of for enampleth'e controlled under carriage is thus rendered free and independent of the under carriage which oper- :ded it so that this latter is completely independent of it and is subject only to the dra'i't stress ot' the truck or car connected to said rear under" carriage.

On the return movement when the notch the pin Z this under the action` o spring u enters it and thus relocks the two under carriages which move together againijjf the spring 'u being held in the notch by the plain portion of the .quadrant 7' which slides over it.

If in actual use a chassis, such as is supported by two axles, which coupled to each other in such a manner that they can simultaneously turn about their respective axes h, one is obliged to limit the angle to which the one and the other axle may be turned.

In fact, if both axles could turn to the extent of 90, the chassis would tip over, because the points of contact oi the four wheels with the ground, would be naturally located upon the same straight line.

The present invention has as its object the provision of a trailer, the front axle of which can turn to any angle, even in excess of 90 with respect to the axis of the trailer, while the turning of the rear axle in the reverse direction ceases when theinclination of the rear axle attains a predetermined value with respect to the main4 axis of the trailer. The device which is the subject matter of this special invention has for its object to connect rigidly `the two axles during a certain angular displacement and then to loose this connection after the angular displacement passes over a predetermined value.

It is to be noted in addition, that the two devices, used for mounting each of the axles, are absolutely identical and symmetrical, so that of the two axles either at will can be actually used as the front axle.

Hence the trailer thus formed may be steered from either of the two under car' riages either of which produces the same displacement of the other.-

Details of construction of the parts of the arrangement may be varied to suit diierent types of vehicle. t

lVhat we claim as our invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent is l. A trailer having four steering wheels comprising in combination two axles, two road wheels mounted on each axle, two under carriages supported :by the axles, a chassis carried by the under carriages, a pin on each under carriage about which it can rotate, links connecting the under carriages, means for yoking the under carriages to the driving vehicle, means foral lowing the foremost under carriage to pivot for turning about a small radius and means for limiting the rotation of the rearmost under carriage to a predetermined angle to maintain the stability of the vehicle.

2. A trailer having four steering wheels as in claim l comprising a stationary locking pin affixed to the axle, a lever connected thereto, a quadrant on the end of the lever, a pin adapted to engagea notch therein, va coupling rod aiiixed to the pin, a double statlonary slotted quadra-nt carried by the chassis and engaged by the pin, bosses on the peripheries of the quadrant opposite the ends of the slot housed in the bosses and projecting into the slot to engage the pin at either end of its travel, a gear box mounted between the two under carriages and coupling rods connecting the pivoted quadrants to the gear box.

In witness whereof we aix our signai tures. t

JOSEPH CODER. LOUIS CODER. 

